Fiber container



G. W. REESE FIBER CONTAINER Nov. 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18. 1948 INVENTQR hail ATTORNEYS G. W. REES E FIBER CONTAINER Npv. 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 18. 1948 4% BY ,QW

ZMA M ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE FIBER CONTAINER Application February 18, 1948, Serial No. 9,273

Claims.

This invention relates to a container for frozen foods and the like and more particularly to a sealed container wherein the top end member may be quickly and cleanly removed by the ultimate consumer without the aid of opening tools.

Ihere is on the market at the present time a container for frozen food products which is formed of a fibre body having metal ends seamed thereto. This container is very satisfactory in many respects. It is economical, easy to fill, seal and freeze, and provides excellent, tamperproof protection for its contents. However, in order to open it an opening tool, such as a knife to cut open the body or a pry-off tool to remove one of the end members, must be employed. My invention contemplates a frozen food container of this general type having a detachable end memher and which may be easily opened without the necessity of using any tools other than the hands of the ultimate consumer.

An object of the invention, therefore, is the provision of a tightly sealed, tamperproof container which will withstand rough handling and usage and provide complete protection for its contents and yet may be easily opened without the use of special opening tools.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a removable section in the body of a container contiguous to one of the end members, preferably the top end member, whereby access may be had to the interior of the container so that the ultimate consumer may, by exerting digital pressure against the undersurface of the top end member, easily and quickly strip the top end member from the container body.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a container wherein the top end member may be easily and completely stripped from the container body thereby providing a fullopen dispensing mouth which facilitates complete removal of the container contents.

Still another object is the provision of a container wherein the above recited objects may be attained at a minimum cost without the necessity of providing additional material for the container.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sealed container embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a portion of the container illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing the removable section in the container body partially removed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the container showing the partial stripping of the top end member from the body;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along a plane indicated by the lines l4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along a plane indicated by the lines '55 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to the upper portion of Fig. 1 showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view similar to the upper portion of Fig. 1 showing another modified form of the invention, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along a plane indicated by the lines 8-8 in Fig. 7.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate a container having a tubular body H (Fig. 1), the wall of which is formed from a single sheet of suitable fibrous material having its marginal side edge portions secured in a glued lap side seam l2 composed of an inner layer I 3 and an outer layer I 4. The tubular fibre body II is rectangular in crosssection and has two broad side panels [5 and two narrower end panels l6, the corners of the body being rounded as at H, although the invention is equally well adapted to containers of other shapes and other materials.

The open ends of the body H are closed by a top end member I 8 and a bottom end member I 9, which is preferably but not necessarily identical in construction to the top end member [3. Prior to the application of the end members, the body H is coated or impregnated with a liquid and moisture vapor proofing substance. Paraffin or other hydrocarbon waxes of mineral or vegetable origin, other waxlike materials, and various resinous varnishes and lacquers are especially suitable for this purpose since they provide a smooth and somewhat slippery body surface which is desirable for the purposes of this invention, as will be hereinafter explained.

Top end member I8 is made of thin sheet metal and is rectangular in shape, being formed with a substantially flat panel wall (Figs. 1 and 4) which merges into a vertical countersink wall 2!. The countersink wall 2| extends outwardly over the body wall in a bridge or inverted U-shaped section 22 which in turn merges into a downwardly extending flange 23. The lower end of this flange 23 is curled or turned inwardly as at 24 and this curl is crimped or embedded in the fibrous wall of the tubular body I I, thereby forming a groove 25 around the periphery of the body. The countersink wall 2 I, the outwardly extending bridge Section 2, the fla e '23 :and .the curl .24 cooperate to form a channel 26 which receives and embraces the body wall H in a tightly crimped or squeezed end seam or joint.

An end member attached to a container body in this manner can be secured very tightly :and tenaciously thereto and can normally be removed only through the use of special opening tools. It can, however, be stripped from the body when pressure is applied against the undersurface of the marginal edge portion of the end member in an outward direction. It is to be understood that while the herein described form :of end seam is the preferred form, other types of end seamshaving essentially the same characteristics and wherein the top end member is squeezed or crimped onto the body, may be'sub- .stituted.

In order to strip off the end .member in this manner, a short removable section or portion 21 .is disposed .at one corner of the container body wall contiguousor adjacent to the top end member so that when this section is removed fromits position .in the body wall accessmay be had to the .undersurface of the marginal edge portion of the top end member. This removable portion extendsfrom a tongue 28 .(Eigs. 1 and 2) which is .formed :in the .outer'layer- M of the side seam 12 of the container. The tearing tongue 28 is preferably set off-by :an upper notch 29 and a lower notch.30 cut in the outer layer of the lap seam, although slits may be substituted if desired. The underside of thetongue28 i left unglued (Fig.2) :so :that it;may.;be.easilyllifted.

A main score line 3| (Figs. 1 and 4) :cut or ;otherwise formedjni'the :body II .extends from .the lower notch :30 partially around the body I] :and :thence .zexten'ds upwardly as -at.32 .to the flange 230i thertopsend member l;8. ,AJShorter :upper auxiliary .scorezlinet33 :extends from the uppernotch 2'9 .partiallyzaround-the body I l and thence upwardly to the flange 23 as-at 34. These score lines together with av shortssection of flange -23, define the short removable 'section :21 rasibest seen in Figs. ;1.:and;2.

As shownin the drawings, each "score line is composed .of opposed cutszin the body wall, each cut necessarily being'of less than half the thickness of the {body material. The particular .form of score line is, ofucourse, of no material importance to this invention and'may be varied'if desired.

.The manual. .detachment of the :top :endmem- "ber Hi .from the body ,is =;made :possible :by the displacement of the removable section or portion .21. This is effected whenthe ultimate'consumer grasps the tongue 28 randpuHs1 mtwardly.upon 7 it, thus tearing the fibrous stock simultaneously along both the upper and lower score lines. When the tear along the upper score lines 33, 34 progresses to the flange 23, the aterial further tears along the flange at the end joint, utilizin it as a cutting edge or tearing guide, until it reaches the junction of the flange and the score line 32. At this point the removable portion 21 is completely severed from the body leaving an opening in a corner of the body which provides access to the interior of the container.

In order to detach the top end member I8 from the container body, the consumer now inserts a finger into the opening to grasp the exposed portion of the top end member, and then pulls upwardly, preferably with a slight twisting motion. This lifting action results in a progressive upward bending of a corner of the thin sheet metal end member from its original flat position (as illustrated inFig. 3), with the result that the end is stripped from the body, the stripping action progressing around the top in both directions until the end is completely detached. Thus a full-open dispensing mouth is provided through which the container contents may be quickly emptied. The marginal edge portion .35 of the container body which is incorporated within the end seam between thescore lines 34 and 32 will be removed along with the top end member 18.

The stripping of the end member is facilitated by the .slippery coating on the portions of the container body incorporated in the end seam, which coating functions as a lubricant.

Fig. 6 discloses a modification of the invention wherein a, lower main score line 36 extends partially around the container body I l but does not reach the end joint flange .23. The upper .auxiliary score line 31 is similar to the one illustrated in Figs. 1 and 15. In this modified form of the invention the removable section isnot necessarily detached from the body I [when the tongue .is grasped and-pulled, but it is displaced from its position in the body thereb breaking the continuity of the body and leaving .an opening so that the end member may :be stripped from the body as hereinbefore described.

In another modification, shown in Fig. 7, the tongue .28 is entirely omitted. Instead, removable wall sections 38, 39 extending downwardly from the top end member l8 are set off by two vertical auxiliary score lines 40, 4| and aconnectinghorizontal main score line 42 located intermediate the ends of the vertical score lines.

Detachment-oi :the top end member I8 is facilitated when the score linesareruptured by digital pressureto displace thesections 38, 39 inwardly, thereby removing them from their positions in the body :wall, thus breaking the continuity of :the body andzproviding-an opening at-the corner of the container into whicha flngermay be inserted to strip .the top :end member from the body. Obviously, various other arrangements of score lines maybe-had to set off a removable section contiguous :the top end member.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will :beunderstood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent thatvarious changes may be made in the form, constructionand arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

lclaim: 1, A sealed imperforate =container for frozen foods and the like for easy opening without the aid of tools, comprising a fibrous body wall of substantially rectangular cross section having rounded corners, and a removable metallic end member having a depending marginal fiange having its terminal edge embedded throughout its entire peripheral extent in the outer surface of said fibrous body wall to secure the end member thereto in a crimped end seam, said body wall having a removable portion extending around one of the rounded corners thereof, said removable portion being partially defined by spaced score lines in adjacent body walls terminating at said end member flange and partially defined by the adjacent terminal edge of said flange extending between the terminal ends of said score lines, one of said score lines extending around said rounded body corner, said removable portion having a tearing tongue projecting at its outer end from said body to facilitate manual severance of said removable portion from said body along said score lines and also along the periphery of said terminal edge of the end member fiange between the inner terminal ends of the score lines as a tearing guide, thereby forming an opening at a corner of said body wall to partially expose said end member to permit the latter to be manually grasped and completely stripped from its embedded crimped engagement with said body Wall to open the container for access to the contents thereof.

2. A fully sealed imperforate composite container for frozen foods and the like, comprising a tubular fibre body of substantially rectangular cross section having side walls merging into substantially rounded corners, said body also having a removable metallic end closure including an annular depending marginal fiange having its terminal edge embedded throughout its entire extent in the outer surface of said body walls to secure said closure to said walls in a sealed end joint, two adjoining side Walls adjacent the corner therebetween containing a rupturable tearaway portion partially defined by a main score line extending in substantially spaced parallelism with said end joint from an intermediate point within one of said two walls through said corner and into the other of said two walls, said rupturable portion being further partially defined by an auxiliary score line extending at an angle to said main score line and terminating at said end joint, said rupturable portion being further defined by the adjacent portion of said end joint, whereby said rupturable portion is severable from the remainder of said body side walls by tearing along said score lines and along said adjacent portion of said end joint to form an opening in the container body which exposes a corner of said metallic end closure to permit the latter to be stripped from said tubular fibre body.

3. A fully sealed imperforate composite container for frozen foods and the like, comprising a tubular fibre body of substantially rectangular cross section having side walls merging into substantially rounded corners, said body also having a lapped side seam in a wall thereof and a removable metallic end closure including an annular depending marginal fiange having its terminal edge embedded throughout its entire extent in the outer surface of said body walls to secure said closure to said walls in a sealed end joint, two adjoining side walls adjacent the corner therebetween containing a, rupturable tearaway portion partially defined by a main score line extending in substantially spaced parallelism with said end joint from said side seam in one of said two adjoining walls through said corner and into the other of said two walls, said main score line ending in an angular extension terminating at said end joint, said rupturable portion being further partially defined by an auxiliary score line in said one wall extending from said side seam and thence at an angle to said main score line and terminating at said end joint, said rupturable portion being further defined by the adjacent portion of said end joint in said two adjoining side walls, whereby said rupturable portion is severable from the remainder of said body side walls by tearing along said score lines and along said adjacent portion of said end joint to form an opening in the container body which exposes a corner of said metallic end closure to permit the latter to be stripped from said tubular fibre body.

4. A fully sealed imperforate composite container for frozen foods and the like, comprising a tubular fibre body of substantially rectangular cross section having side walls merging into substantially rounded corners, said body also having a lapped side seam in a wall thereof and a removable metallic end closure including an annular depending marginal fiange having its terminal edge embedded throughout its entire extent in the outer surface of said body walls to secure said closure to said walls in a sealed end joint, two adjoining side walls adjacent the corner therebetween containing a rupturable tear-away portion partially defined by a main score line extending in substantially spaced parallelism with said end joint from said side seam in one of said two adjoining walls through said corner and into the other of said two walls, said rupturable portion being further partially defined by an auxiliary score line in said one wall extending from said side seam and thence at an angle to said main score line and terminating at said end joint, said rupturable portion being further defined by the adjacent portion of said end joint in said two adjoining side walls, whereby said rupturable portion is severable from the remainder of said body side walls by tearing along said score lines and along said adjacent portion of said end joint to form an opening in the container body which exposes a corner of said metallic end closure to permit the latter to be stripped from said tubular fibre body.

5. A fully sealed imperforate composite container for frozen foods and the like, comprising a tubular fibre body of substantially rectangular cross section having side walls merging into substantially rounded corners, said body also hav ing a removable metallic end closure including an annular depending marginal fiange having its terminal edge embedded throughout its entire extent in the outer surface of said body walls to secure said closure to said walls in a sealed end joint, two adjoining side walls adjacent the corner therebetween containing a rupturable tear-away portion partially defined by a main score line extending in substantially spaced parallelism with said end joint from adjacent the side seam in one of said two adjoining walls through said corner and into the other of said two Walls, said rupturable portion being further partially defined by a pair of spaced auxiliary score lines located respectively in said two adjoining walls, said auxiliary score lines each intersecting and extending at an angle to said main score line and terminating at said end joint, said rupturable portion being further defined by the GARLAND W. REESE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 'Name Date Comings Ian. 10, 1905 Taylor June 5, 1934 Hermani Aug. 7, 1934 Herrmann 'Aug. '21, 19.34 Vogt Aug. 25, 1936 W.E.'Taylor. July 13,1937 Frederick 'Nov. :2, 1937 Marshall :Mar. '29, 31938 Geist iMar. 10,1942 Wilcox Nov. 17, 1942 Goodyear May.9, 1944 

